Signal system for storage tanks



Aug. 16, 1938. F. PHANEUF SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR STORAGE TANKS Filed Nov. 22, 1934 4g //Q c/ ////l I 55 I V J #5 2 2 Sheets-Sheet l ALW Aug. 16, 1938. 1.. F. PHANEUF 2,127,422

SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR STORAGE TANKS Filed Nov. 22, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 16, 1938 Umrso STATES PATENT OFFICE SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR STQRAGE TANKS Leo F. Phaneuf, New Redford, Mass.

Application November 22, 1934, Serial No. 754,245 1 Qiaim. (Cl. iii-311i My invention relates to a signal system for a storage tank, particularly the fuel oil storage tank of an oil heating apparatus such as is provided within a building.

6 The invention has for its object to provide an improved system of this class which will operate automatically to inform an occupant of the building of the fact that the supply of oil within the tank is depleted or low when such is the case, and

10 which will also operate automatically to inform a person outside of the building who is engaged in refilling the tank that the latter is full when such as the case.

To this end I have provided a signal system of I 15 the class described having the peculiar features of construction and mode of operation set forth in the following description, the several novel features of the invention being particularly pointed out and defined in the claim at the close 20 thereof.

In the accompanying drawings:-

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a building equipped with a signal system constructed in accordance with this invention.

25 Figure 2 is a similar view but illustrating other Ieatures of the invention.

Figure 3 is an elevation, partly broken away, of the switch hereinafter described viewed fromone side.

30 Figure 4 is an elevation, partly broken away, of the switch viewed from the opposite side and including the float mechanism for operating the same.

Figure 5 is a detail showing one of the mercoid 35 switch elements hereinafter'described.

Figure 6 illustrates a modification.

In the accompanying drawings, l represents one 0! the walls or a building, I l a basement room, 12 the first floor, and 13 an upper room which 40 may be the kitchen and which may be equipped with a range oil burner (not shown) that is supplied with fuel oil from a tank or reservoir I4 within which it is necessary to maintain a supply of fuel oil. Or the reservoir l4 may supply 011 to 45 the oil burner of an air, hot water, or steam,

heating system. v

The supply of oil within tank I is replenished through a. filler pipe l whereof one end is connected with the tank and which extends there- 50 from through the wall III of the building to the outside of the latter where its opposite end is disposed above the level of the ground l6 and provided with a. removable closure cap l'l.

The supply tanks I4 01 oil burner heating sys- 66 terns vary in size according to the type of heating system of which they form part, but the smallest will ordinarily have a capacity of several hundred gallons. Therefore when the supply of oil Within tank [4 is to be replenished it is customary to convey oil to the building in a 5 tank wagon or truck l8 from which a measured quantity oi 'oil is delivered through a delivery hose is into the upper end of filler pipe i5.

In accordance with my invention the tank I4. is constructed at its top with a threaded hole 20 into which is screwed an exteriorly threaded flanged nipple 2| forming part of a switch-box 22 to which it is fastened by bolts 23. A nut 26 on nipple 2! holds the latter against accidental rotative displacement.

The box 22 is interiorly constructed with two compartments and also with bearings in which is journaled a rock-shaft 27. Within the box 22 and fast on shaft 21 is an arm 28 connected by a link 29 with a lever 30 carrying a float 3|, said lever being arranged within the tank i4 and fulcrumed at 32 on the lower end of a bracket 33 depending from the switch-box 22. 7

It will be clear that as the level of the oil within tank l4 varies the float lever will be swung on its fulcrum and act through link. 29 and arm 2% to rotatively adjust shaft 21.

Fixed in position upon the outer end of shaft 21 is a pointer 34 whose free end traverses a path across the outer face of a segmental flat wall 25 forming part of box 22. At one end of the path of said free end the wall 25 is provided with the letter F indicating full and at the opposite end of said path with the letter E indicating "empty. Thus the position of the pointer 34 relatively to 35 the letters F and E serves at all times to visually indicate the level of the oil within the tank.

Fixedly mounted upon the shaft 21 within the switch-box 22 is a disk 36 on one face of which are fastened two mercury switch circuit operating 40 elements 31 and 38 positioned relatively and with respect to shaft 21 so that as pointer 34 is moved into register with the letter E through exhaustion or depletion of the oil within the tank M the mercury switch element 38 is tilted and automatically closes an electric circuit through a. signal lamp 39 fixed in position on one of the walls of the upper story room l3,- and so that as pointer 34 is moved into register with the letter F during the operation of refilling tank l4 the mercury switch element 31 is tilted and automatically closes another circuit through a. signallamp 40 outside of the building and preferably mounted on tank wagon l8 as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be understood that. rotative adjustment 56 of the carrier disk 36 in either direction to close one o! the two circuits at one or the mercury switch elements, as described, is accompanied by an angular adjustment or the other mercoid element in a direction to open its circuit, and it will be observed that the opening of the one circuit is eflected near the start of the movement of pointer 34 in one direction and that the closing of the other circuit does not occur until near the end or the swing of pointer 34 in that direction. Therefore, the pointer 34 can be moved for a considerable distance in either direction between the limits oi its movements without operating either circuit so that the signal lamp 39 is lighted only when the supply of oil within tank I4 is nearly exhausted as shown in Fig. 1, while signal lamp 40 is lighted only when the supply within tank l4 has been completely replenished from tank wagon III as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 illustrates the construction of the mercury switch element 31 and the element Il may be similarly constructed. Each consists of a sealed hollow glass body 4| containing a body of mercury 42 to co-operate, as usual, with a pair of circuit terminals 43 and 44.

The terminal 44 of element 31 is connected with one end or a conductor 45 whose opposite end is connected with one oi the terminals of an ordinary socket fixture 48 fixed within a housing 41 that is part 01' the wall In. The other terminal of this socket fixture is connected by a conductor 44' with one of the output terminals of a transformer T, of ordinary construction. The other output terminal of the transformer is connected by a conductor 48 with the terminal 43 of element 31.

One or the terminals of element 38 is connected by a conductor 50 with conductor 4! leading to one or the output terminals of the transformer, while the other terminal of this element ll is connected by a conductor 5| with one of the terminals of the electric lamp 39 the opposite terminal of the latter being connected by a conductor 52 with the conductor 48 leading to the other output terminal oi. transformer T.

ln l ig. 2 of the drawingsa connector plug 53 made with a pair oi circuit terminal contacts, as usual is shown as separably engaged with the socket fixture 48 which, as usual, is also provided with a pair of circuit terminal contacts, not shown. The terminal plug is provided at one end of a cable 84 each of whose wires or conductors is connected at its one end with one of the prongs or plug 48 and at its opposite end with one of the terminals of the electric lamp 4' on the truck,

The two input terminals of the transformer T are connected, as shown, with the conductors of a current supplying circuit 55.

In lieu of the lamp 40, cable 54 and terminal plug 53 the driver of the truck lB may be provided with an electro-magnetic buzzer 51 of ordinary construction having a pair of circuit terminals or contact prongs 58 adapted to be inserted in the socket fixture 46. When this buzzer is used of course an audible signal will be given outside of the building to inform the operator of the truck that the tank 14 is full. The buzzer instrument 51 is intended to be carried by the driver while making his deliveries.

The box 41 which forms part of the wall In may be provided with a hinged lid 56 so that when the socket fixture 4G is not in use said lid may occupy its closed position shown in Fig. l where it serves to shield the interior of the box from the weather.

When my signal system is installed in a building as part of a heating system, or in connection with any other service where oil or the like is dispensed or delivered from a supply tank or vessel located in the basement or cellar, it will be clear that when the signal on the upper floor is automatically operated the housewife, or other person receiving the signal, can telephone to the oil distributor. The oil distributor will then refill the tank and as soon as the operation of refilling is completed a signal outside oi. the buildin is operated to inform him of that fact. During the refilling operation the electric lamp within the building is automatically extinguished through adjustment of the float within the tank which informs the occupant of the house that the tank is being refilled.

What I claim is:

The combination with a liquid fuel consuming system within a building having a fuel supply reservoir equipped with provision for filling from the outside or the building, of an electric circuit portion having therein a switch equipped with operating means responsive to the fluid level in said reservoir and having a coupling terminal accessible from the building exterior, and a complemental circuit portion formed as a portable unit equipped with a signal and with a co-operative coupling terminal adapted to be applied at will to the first coupling terminal to complete the circuit subject to the closing of said switch and cause operation of said signal when a pre determined fluid level exists in said reservoir.

LEO F. PHANEUF. 

